YOU can take the lad out of the Boro... Despite transferring to Premier league Bolton Wanderers last week, 'Redcar Rock' David Wheater wasn't about to turn his back on his former team-mates.

Having completed his switch to the Trotters on Wednesday, the 23-year-old was among the 16,157 crowd at Saturday’s frustrating 1-1 home draw with Preston North End.

And as he watched the game alongside fiancée Laura Fountain, he’ll have been as frustrated as any supporter when Billy Jones popped up three minutes from time to snatch an undeserved point for the visitors.

‘One of our own’ Wheater said he’d go to Saturday’s game and was true to his word.

After completing his transfer, he had said: “I’ve still got my box at the Riverside and I’ll be back on Saturday for the Preston game supporting the lads.

“Boro will always have a place in my heart and I’ll be keeping my house in Redcar.”

But the towering stopper is still waiting to make his return to Premier League action.

The Redcar Rock, or Bolton Boulder, as he could now be known, was on the bench last night as his new side were crushed 4-0 by Chelsea.